Balaam’s Ass
Mark’s Testimony:
You may be pondering my words and asking yourself the question, “Why Balaam’s Ass for your title?” I hope to make that indelibly clear by the end of this article.
First, let me give you a brief sketch of my jaunt through the tepid lethargy of regurgitated Christianity (that’s what I call it in my book, anyway). I don’t say that to be mean – but – let’s call a spade a spade, shall we.
Growing up, I attended a very influential church in South Carolina. I attended their Christian school from the 2nd grade and graduated in 1983. I went on to earn a B.S. degree from the Baptist Univ. of America in Pastoral Theology in 1986 (yes… three years). I sang in a select musical ensemble that traveled around the country ministering to churches. I met thousands of pastors during that musical excursion. I was the first from my graduating class to receive a job as a “full time minister of the Gospel.” Wow! Pat me on the back, why don’t you.
I served as Asst. Pastor in Nebraska, Georgia and Florida; all of the churches were “successful” in their denominational circles of fellowship. I was “successful” as well.
àI grew a youth group in Nebraska from 32 teens to 77 in less than one year, developed a soul winning ministry, and begun a youth camping tradition that continues to this day (20 years later).
àThe youth group I inherited in Georgia had 4 teens the first Wednesday night. In four weeks it had mushroomed to 79. But… I could only stay 6 months due to the political infighting of certain spiritual leaders.
àIn Palm Bay, Florida, I led a “successful” college and career ministry in the church, and coached the varsity soccer team to their first ever state and regional championship; we placed 4th in the nation that year. It is a benchmark that is yet to be equaled at that particular school.
àLet’s proceed on to Jacksonville, Florida. When I arrived in Jax. there were 14 teens, and we quickly flourished to over 70+ in average attendance. I again began a soul winning and camping ministry. I also had leadership over the entire Sunday school ministry. The average attendance grew from 220ish to well over 300 in a short time.
àIn January of 1995, I moved my family to start a church in Concord, N.C. One year in, and the church was doing well financially and many were being saved. The strange thing was that I was very unhappy. I knew something was missing, but… I couldn’t put my finger on the issue.
I remember it well. It was June of 1996, and we were traveling to Sarasota, Fl., to visit with my mother and brother in law. I “decided” to stop by Ocala, Fl., and ask on of my pastor friends if he could eat lunch with us. He said yes…. And that was the beginning of the spiritual ride of my life. He Jeremiah 1:10nd me, but good!!!! I cover the whole scenario in my book: Secrets of the Spiritual Matrix. He proceeded to show me stuff out of the Bible (basic stuff we don’t know) that rocked my world over the next six months. He showed me the theme of the Bible (it’s not what you may think), the 7 mysteries of I Cor. 4:1, the 7 stages of spiritual growth, the 4 goals of Biblical discipleship, what really happened when Lucifer rebelled and much, much more.
Well… I fleshed-out this Biblical paradigm of ministry in my life, and began implementing it into my IC church. Needless to say, when confronted with authentic Christianity, they flinched. I was beginning to move the “church” out of the four walls of a building and they didn’t like it one bit. So, In January of 2001 I resigned. I didn’t want to take my family through a church fight.
I began purposefully and aggressively studying and researching the “real” church of Acts 20:20. That year, my brother introduced me to the Matrix Trilogy. You know…. Neo, Morpheus, Trinity and Cipher. God began working on my heart to write a book about what is needed for real ministry to take place. I finished the book in early 2008, and it became available on Amazon.com on March 25, 2008.
It is just beginning to pick up speed, and is already impacting individual lives dramatically. People are buying multiple copies (5-10 at a clip) and giving them out like tracts. It is causing a lot of discussion with saved unsaved alike.
“Okay… so what?” May be the query of your mind. Well, book II will expose the new wineskin (or the original wineskin) of the emerging church. I believe we are living in a dispensation shift, and we need to catch the tsunami early and ride the cultural wave of religious thinking into spiritual viability – as do you.
George Barna (you) said it well… 75% if the churched will leave the IC in the next 15 years. That will bankrupt most IC churches. Are we giving the millions who are leaving the IC every year a structure that will keep us on track? We must always REAP. By that I mean…. (R) each others for Christ, (E) stablish them in the Word of God, (A) pply the Word to our lives on a daily basis, and (P) roduce another like us as we are like Christ. This is ministry in a nutshell. Our purpose is to REAP, and keep REAPING until He returns in the near future.
I say all that to say this: On July 11th, 2008 – I unveiled [on the Donica Hudson show (Charlotte Alive)] my plan to develop a first class website that will provide free online equipping for anyone who desires to become a spiritual leader for a new wineskin (HomeWord Bound Fellowship Group). It will be approx. 70 lessons that are born out of 30 years of experience. I know what “we” have done incorrectly as it relates to equipping the believer, and I believe God has led me down a certain path to expose the truth of reality living to the masses. The only thing I lack is funding and maintenance for this site.
So far, other than my wife and God, I have been independent; I am now asking for your support in prayer, marketing my book (Secrets of the Spiritual Matrix) and getting me in contact with likeminded groups to share the vital ministry information found in my book for the coming spiritual revolution. All my book needs is exposure; I believe you could help with that. Pastors hate my book, so they won’t be inclined to help. However, the “regular” Christian loves the book and is buying multiple copies to give away.
Will you help me equip the believer for the work of the ministry? The fact is: we don’t GO to church – we ARE the church (24/7/365)!
I am passionate about equipping the body of Christ. You can check me out at: www.godtube.com/markharrell, www.myspace.com/spiritualmatrix, www.myspace.com/homewordboundministries and www.youtube.com/user/markdharrell. You can contact me at: 704.509.6792 and mdclem1981@yahoo.com.
God bless us as the true churches impact lives until the catching away of the Bride to her Bridegroom.
Impacting Lives,
Mark D. Harrell
(Prov. 13:12)
